Overview
Literary Criticism is the discipline of interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating literary works. It is often informed by literary theory, which provides the philosophical and methodological framework for criticism.
Core Idea
The core idea is that a text is not a transparent window into reality but a construct that can be analyzed from multiple angles—historical, psychological, linguistic, or political—to reveal deeper meanings.
Formal Definition
Literary criticism is the reasoned discussion of literary works, an activity which may include some or all of the following procedures, in varying proportions: the defense of literature against moralists and censors, classification of a work according to its genre, analysis of its structure and style, judgment of its worth, and comparison with other works.
Intuition
If literature is the “art,” literary criticism is the “science” (or philosophy) of understanding that art. It asks how a book works, why it affects us, and what it says about the world.
Examples
- New Criticism: Focuses on the text itself (close reading) excluding external factors like the author’s biography.
- Marxist Criticism: Analyzes literature through the lens of class struggle and economic conditions.
- Feminist Criticism: Examines how literature reinforces or challenges gender roles and patriarchy.
Common Misconceptions
- Misconception: Criticism is just saying whether a book is good or bad.
- Correction: While evaluation is part of it, modern criticism is more about interpretation and analysis than assigning a star rating.
- Misconception: The author’s intent is the only valid meaning.
- Correction: The “Intentional Fallacy” suggests that the text often contains meanings the author did not consciously intend, and the reader’s interpretation is equally valid.
Related Concepts
- Hermeneutics: The theory and methodology of interpretation.
- Deconstruction: A method of critical analysis that emphasizes the internal contradictions in a text.
- Canon: The body of books, narratives, and other texts considered to be the most important and influential of a particular time period or place.
Applications
- Academic Study: The basis of literature departments in universities.
- Cultural Analysis: Using literature to diagnose the health and values of a culture.
- Enrichment: Helping readers find deeper layers of meaning in what they read.
Criticism and Limitations
- Over-theorizing: Critics are sometimes accused of imposing theories onto texts that don’t fit, or using jargon that obscures rather than illuminates.
- Subjectivity: Despite attempts at rigor, criticism remains highly subjective.
Further Reading
- Literary Theory: An Introduction by Terry Eagleton
- The Critical Tradition by David H. Richter